Free Tell Me No Secrets by Michelle-Nikki Page A

and Jaime pushed her back.
    â€œBack up and leave her alone,” he said to her as he stood in front of me.
    Stephanie stumbled and almost fell back but caught herself. I could tell she was appalled by him pushing her and had hurt her ankle trying to break her fall.
    â€œCome on, Chyanne. Let me take care of the check so we can get out of here. You okay?” he asked.
    I nodded and stood when he pulled my chair out. We both stopped and looked when Stephanie moved around him so she could see me. Jamie kept himself planted firmly between the both of us so she had to move at an angle to see me. It was clear that people were trying to gather whether if Jamie was the husband in question or not.
    â€œStay away from my husband. I won’t say it again,” she pointedly told me as she made her way to the lobby with a slight limp.
    Jamie shook his head and after paying the check we both walked out. We were both quiet as he walked me to my car. I didn’t know what he was thinking of me, but I couldn’t really think about that at the moment. He wrapped his arms around me when I tried to run away from the wind blowing at me. He smelled so good and he was warm.
    So many things were running through my mind like, What had Aric told that woman about me for her to act that way? I mean, I knew she was upset about him cheating on her, but some of the things she said stuck out to me. Like, how many times he had cheated on her. I knew it was dumb, but it hurt to hear that. I didn’t know why I felt jealous in that moment.
    â€œYou want to talk about it?” Jamie asked when we had reached my car.
    I unlocked the door, got in, and started the engine before turning back to answer him.
    â€œI wouldn’t even know where to start.”
    He squatted and placed his hand on my leg. “What the hell happened in there? All I kept hearing was people talking about some woman confronting another about her husband and I knew it had to be you.”
    I glanced at him quick and hard when he said that.
    â€œI didn’t mean it like you think Chyanne. I meant that . . . never mind. Tell me what happened.”
    â€œI really would rather not rehash it right now. Can I call you later and we can talk?”
    He nodded and placed a gentle kiss to my lips before standing. I wanted to ask him why he did things like that, but my phone started to ring. I knew it was Aric because of the ring tone.
    â€œCall me when you get in and let me know that you’ve made it home safely. I have to go down to Ellenwood and check on a few things at one of my stores so maybe I can stop by later and we can do a movie or something. Cool?”
    I smiled. “Cool. Call you later,” I said to him as he closed my door for me.
    I had pulled out of the parking spot and was about to pull out into traffic when I remembered my manners. I turned to see Jamie walking to where I assumed his car was parked. I didn’t know why I didn’t ask if he would have liked me to drive him to his car. I looked for a way to get out into traffic so I could pull along-side him and ask just that. By the time I had made the u-turn he had stopped and was talking to some woman who looked so much like Jill Scott it was uncanny. Don’t ask me why my face frowned and I looked like I had been slapped. They were both smiling at one another and when they exchanged business cards my jealousy meter shot through the roof. I finally pulled up and let the window down.
    â€œSorry I didn’t ask before, but would you like me to drive you to your car?” I asked him.
    He excused himself and briskly walked over to the passenger side window before squatting and looking at me.
    â€œNo, I’m good. Why don’t you go ahead and get home so you can get out of this traffic.”
    I looked past his shoulders at the Jill Scott look-alike and looked back at him. He gave a slight chuckle and smirk.
    â€œPlease, don’t tell me I see what I think I